The Department of Natural Resources is seeking public input on a proposal to change the date that ice shanties would need to be removed from Upper Peninsula boundary waters.

Currently, ice shanties are required to be removed from all UP waters by midnight on March 31 of each year. The proposal would change that date to March 15 in the boundary waters only, which would align the date with Wisconsin boundary water rules.

"This proposal will improve angler safety due to late season unsafe ice conditions, simplify regulations for anglers using these waters, and will make law enforcement efforts more simple and effective," said Michael Herman, DNR Northern Lake Michigan Management Unit supervisor in Gladstone. "I encourage anglers to provide input on this proposed change as we move it through the public review process."

To provide comment on the proposal, please call, e-mail or send comments to Michael Herman, DNR supervisor for the Northern Lake Michigan Management Unit, 6833 US Highway 2, Gladstone, MI 49837-2552. Comments may be sent by e-mail to hermanm@michigan.gov, or by phone to 906-786-2351, extension 127.